Inflatable Arches & Event Structures

An inflatable keeps working after you walk away from it, as long as the blower keeps running: something huge out of a bag two people can carry, printed edge to edge with no frame breaking the artwork. Arches, columns and V-Arc tents suit races, walkways and stages. Plan the power first.

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Easy to deal with, good quality materials and prompt delivery. Really nothing more we can ask for. Will definitely use Backdrop Source again.

David WoodEvents Director, BluePeak

I have purchased several frames and tension fabrics; the process for acquiring these backdrops is super easy. The team is very helpful when needed. The product quality is great.

Carlo A.Events Director, BluePeak

Very professional approach, they listen actually to what you need. The quality is great! I was pleasantly surprised :)

Kateryna VoroninaFounder, Trendline Co.

The reliable communication, top shelf quality of the finished product and perfectly synced delivery makes Backdropsource our go to provider everytime.

JeffBrand Manager, NovaTech

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these have to stay plugged in the whole time? +

Yes. These are constant-air structures rather than sealed ones, so the blower holds the shape continuously and cutting power puts the piece on the ground within a minute or two. Plan a dedicated circuit if you can get one, or a generator with fuel for the full day, and a cord run nobody will kick loose. Tape or mat any cord crossing a walking route.

What do I do about wind? +

Anchor everything, at every point provided, before it is fully inflated. An arch has a large surface and almost no mass, so it moves in conditions a canopy tent would ignore, which makes this the category where anchoring is least negotiable. Ground spikes through the anchor points on grass, weight plates or filled sand bags at each foot on pavement. If gusts are building, deflate.

Can they run in the rain? +

They can get wet, with two cautions. The blower is an electrical appliance sitting on the ground, so keep it out of standing water: up on a crate or pallet, outdoor-rated cord, connections off wet grass. The other is weight, because a soaked arch is heavier and loads its anchors harder in wind. Steady rain is fine for a day's use. If there is lightning about, deflate.

How long does setup take and how many people? +

Two people and ten to fifteen minutes for an arch, most of it unrolling, positioning and anchoring rather than inflating. Attach the blower, switch it on, and the shape rises while you tension the lines. Columns and a tube man are a one-person job. The order never changes: position, anchor, then inflate, because a fully inflated arch is very hard to move.

Does the print hold up over a season outdoors? +

Dye-sublimation drives colour into the fabric rather than laying it on the surface, so it does not crack as the material flexes, and an inflatable flexes constantly. Over a dozen events, expect it to look essentially new. A piece used as a permanent daily fixture in full sun gradually loses some intensity, most obviously in bright reds. Keep it bagged between events.

How do I dry it before packing, and store it over winter? +

This is the habit that matters most, because inflatables pack into a sealed bundle with no ventilation inside. Leave the blower running fifteen or twenty minutes after the event with the structure standing, which dries the fabric from the inside, then wipe pooled water off before rolling. Roll loosely rather than compressed hard, keep it off bare concrete, and store the blower somewhere heated.

How is an inflatable different from a canopy tent or a V-Arc tent? +

A canopy tent is a rigid frame with a printed roof: it stands without power, gives shade, and comes in fixed 10x10, 10x15 and 10x20 footprints you can trade from all day. An inflatable arch is a threshold, so people pass through it or photograph it, and the whole surface carries branding no frame breaks up. V-Arc Inflatable Tents sit between the two.